The Bone Room by Debra Webb

Author:Debra Webb
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Harlequin
Published: 2021-07-13T21:26:44+00:00

Chapter Ten

Shake Rag, 10:15 a.m.

“Did I mention this was a bit off the grid?”

Casey parked. “You mentioned it, yes.” He glanced around the woods that marched right up to the narrow dirt road that stopped a good distance from the cabin barely visible in the distance. “You came out here alone?”

“I grew up here, so I’m used to this sort of thing.” Naomi reached for her seat belt. “Mainly, I think I was running on adrenaline.”

He grunted. The lady was definitely pretty fearless. The weight of the weapon nestled against his torso was reassuring. Off-the-grid types like the individual in this case could be a little sensitive to strangers.

“Let’s see if he’s accepting visitors.” Casey emerged from the vehicle and adjusted his jacket. He really didn’t want to get himself shot today. As he moved beyond the hood, he glanced at Naomi. He definitely did not want her to get hurt. “Stay behind me.”

“Somehow it didn’t look quite so ominous before.”

“Desperation sometimes prevents us from seeing the danger before we make the leap.”

“I’ve taken a few leaps like that in my time,” she confessed.

“You were fearless even at eleven,” he pointed out as they started moving toward the small ramshackle structure ahead.

She laughed, then covered her mouth and stared forward as if expecting the hermit to start calling out threats to halt or else.

God, she had the bluest eyes.

Focus, man.

He parked his attention back on the potential danger lying ahead. This was no time to go wandering off the task at hand.

“I have no idea what you mean, Agent Duncan,” she said in a stage whisper. “I’ve never considered myself fearless.”

“The rule was no diving off the pier.”

She stalled, looked at him. “Oh my God. I jumped.”

The words came out in a sort of awe as if she’d only just remembered that long ago day.

“You did. We had decided we were going to do it. Before either one of us had the good sense to stop, we were both standing on the railing. Someone shouted, No diving. The next thing we knew people, including security, were rushing toward us. We looked at each other and you just grinned and said, Are you brave enough to jump? Then you jumped. I didn’t have the guts.”

“My parents had a fit. I didn’t understand all the fuss. I was a great swimmer. It was amazing. Those moments in the air before I hit the water were incredible.”

“I think it had to do with sharks, rough waters and pilings. You know, all that dangerous stuff.”

The image of strands of her red hair in the breeze, those blue eyes sparkling with mischief. And that smile. He’d never forgotten that moment.

“I thought I was a mermaid in disguise. There was nothing to fear.”

A mermaid. The perfect description.

“I almost gave my mom a heart attack.” She shook her head. “It really was a foolish thing to do.”

Now he felt guilty. “It may have been my fault.”

She stared at him now, but he kept his eyes on the shack ahead.

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